Hash creation using arbitrary header field combinations

Abstract

Particular embodiments described herein provide for a system, an apparatus, and a method for hash creation using arbitrary header field combinations. One example implementation can include operations associated with generating a first hash key from user-defined fields for a first packet, generating a second hash key from user-defined fields for a second packet. The first packet can be directed along a first direction in a network and the second packet can be directed along a second direction that is different from the first direction in the network. The first hash key and the second hash key can result in a same hash for the first and second packets, and the same hash is used to select an outgoing port channel member interface to be used in sending at least a portion of the first and the second packets in the network.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method, comprising:
 generating a first hash key from user-defined fields for a first packet; and   generating a second hash key from user-defined fields for a second packet,   wherein the first packet is directed along a first direction in a network and the second packet is directed along a second direction that is different from the first direction in the network, and   further wherein the first hash key and the second hash key result in a same hash for the first and second packets, and the same hash is used to select an outgoing port channel member interface to be used in sending at least a portion of the first and the second packets in the network.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein content of the first and second hash keys is user-configurable and contains fields extracted from headers for the first and second packets. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein content of the first and second hash keys is user-configurable and contains fields extracted from internal variables generated by an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) for the first and second packets. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the generating of the first and second hash keys for hashing for the first and second packets is configurable per packet type. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the generating of the first and second hash keys includes defining a hashing criteria for a particular set of packet types. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the user-defined fields are user configurable and the user-defined fields include a source internet protocol (IP) address and a destination IP address. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first packet includes an encapsulated header, and the second packet includes a non-encapsulated header. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 performing packet load balancing using arbitrary header field combinations associated with a traffic flow for packets that include encapsulated headers and non-encapsulated packets to generate the same hash.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the same hash is generated by symmetrically hashing on only selected IP port fields and layer four (L4) port fields. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the sending of at least a portion of the first and the second packets in the network comprises making a copy of at least a portion of the first and second packets to send in the network. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the sending of at least a portion of the first and the second packets in the network comprises forwarding at least a portion of the first and second packets in the network. 
     
     
         12 . A network device, comprising:
 a key generation engine configured to:
 generate a first hash key from user-defined fields for a first packet; and 
 generate a second hash key from user-defined fields for a second packet, 
   wherein the first packet is directed along a first direction in a network and the second packet is directed along a second direction that is different from the first direction in the network, and
 further wherein the first hash key and the second hash key result in a same hash for the first and second packets, and the same hash is used to select an outgoing port channel member interface to be used in sending at least a portion of the first and the second packets in the network. 
   
     
     
         13 . The network device of  claim 12 , wherein content of the first and second hash keys is user-configurable and contains fields extracted from headers for the first and second packets. 
     
     
         14 . The network device of  claim 12 , wherein content of the first and second hash keys is user-configurable and contains fields extracted from internal variables generated by an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) for the first and second packets. 
     
     
         15 . The network device of  claim 12 , wherein the generating of the first and second hash keys for hashing for the first and second packets is configurable per packet type. 
     
     
         16 . The network device of  claim 12 , wherein the generating of the first and second hash keys includes defining a hashing criteria for a particular set of packet types. 
     
     
         17 . Computer-readable medium for hash creation in a network, the computer-readable medium containing instructions executable by a processor for:
 generating a first hash key from user-defined fields for a first packet; and   generating a second hash key from user-defined fields for a second packet,   wherein the first packet is directed along a first direction in the network and the second packet is directed along a second direction that is different from the first direction in the network; and   further wherein the first hash key and the second hash key result in a same hash for the first and second packets, and the same hash is used to select an outgoing port channel member interface to be used in sending at least a portion of the first and the second packets in the network.   
     
     
         18 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 17 , wherein the medium contains instructions executable by the processor for:
 performing packet load balancing using arbitrary header field combinations associated with a traffic flow for packets that include encapsulated headers and non-encapsulated packets to generate the same hash.   
     
     
         19 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 17 , wherein the first packet includes an encapsulated header, and the second packet includes a non-encapsulated header. 
     
     
         20 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 17 , wherein the generating of the first and second hash keys includes defining a hashing criteria for a particular set of packet types.